David A. Embury
David Augustus Embury (November 3, 1886 in Pine Woods, New York - July 6, 1960 in New Rochelle, New York) was an attorney and author of The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks (1948), a classic encyclopedia of the 20th century cocktail.
The book is noteworthy for its highly opinionated and conversational tone, as well as its categorization of cocktails into two types: aromatic and sour, its categorization of ingredients into three: base, modifying agents and special flavoring and coloring agents, and its 1:2:8 ratio (1 part sweet, 2 parts sour, 8 parts base) for sour type cocktails.
In the book, Embury makes it clear that he had "never been engaged in any of the manifold branches of the liquor business" and that his experience was "entirely as a consumer and as a shaker-upper of drinks for the delectation of my guests".[1] For many years, Embury was a senior tax partner with the respected Manhattan law firm of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt and Mosle. He also served as chairman of the National Interfraternity Conference. Embury graduated from Cornell University in 1908 and was a member of Acacia.
References
- ^ Embury, David (1958) [1948]. The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks. illustrated by Nathan Gluck (New rev. ed. ed.). Garden City, N.Y: Doubleday. pp. pp. 9-10. LCC TX951 .E55 1958.
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